The Vining Family and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

My family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.

On the 6th of May in 2012, my family gave a picnic table and benches at the corner of North Millers Dale (off Hursley Road) to the NMDCA (North Millers Dale Community Association), unfortunately the little plaque attached to the table was removed some time ago.

In this post, you’ll see a few photos of the day the picnic table was presented by my family to the area with the help and approval of NMDCA.

The Vining family farmed Hiltonbury Farm in Chandler’s Ford until 1976.

Vining’s Copse and Hiltonbury Farmhouse

It was a great day and 91 Vinings and direct family members came from near and far for a gathering that was held at the Copse and at the Hiltonbury, our family home for around 100 years.

Donated public picnic area for Chandler’s Ford: 91 Vinings attended the significant event at Vining’s Copse in 2012.

The central upstairs window of The Farmhouse is the window to my bedroom until I was married in April 1964 and then moved into Ramalley cottages (no longer there now) demolished by Drapers for their car park.

Briefly the Beatties were tenants of Hiltonbury Farm and Mrs Beattie (Auntie Toss) became the Guardian of my father (John Vining) when he was orphaned as a boy. He lived at Hiltonbury but moved to Wokingham during the Second World War where I was born in 1943.

Mr Father moved back to Hiltonbury in 1946 to manage Hiltonbury Farm.

Hiltonbury Farmhouse: The Vining family farmed the North and South Millers Dale and surrounding areas for over 100 years living in Hiltonbury Farmhouse until 1976.

Hiltonbury Herd of pedigree Jerseys

He started the Hiltonbury Herd of pedigree Jerseys that is still in existence and now owned by my nephew in Botley and is 150 strong.

I worked and managed Hiltonbury Farm with my Father until 1974 when my sister Heather took over for the transition from Hiltonbury to Velmore when the whole farm was taken for development of North and South Millers Dale and Valley Park.

This picnic area is donated by the Vining family.

I have many memories of Chandler’s Ford when I was a boy and growing up and would be happy to share with you.

Three years ago come April my wife and I moved back to live in Chandler’s Ford and I now can look out over Flexford where I used to work and play as a lad.

I have certainly seen a lot of changes in Chandler’s Ford.

Donated by the Vining family: the table and bench at the corner of North Millers Dale and Hursley Road, Chandler’s Ford.

About Andy Vining

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Sometimes as you go through life it seems that destruction follows. You must have felt sad that ‘your’ patch was built on. I felt sad that two of the hospitals I used to work in are now supermarket car parks. On the other hand, one of the schools I went to was a pile of rubble when I last saw it (Hurrah). I was very upset when bulldozers moved over ‘my’ cricket pitch at the back of our house.
Then you have to feel content that families move in to new houses and new facilities are provided.
That is a fascinating post and the house looks intriguing. Cleaning those windows must have been a tedious job.

At the time I may have felt sad that after 100 years of our family being the custodians of Hiltonbury to see the changes taking place but I was not a NIMBY then and I am not now.

People have to live somewhere and we needed then as we do now.
I had to move on and did many things in my life that were very different to what I have expected to do as I thought I was destined to a life as a farmer. But that’s another story.

The Hiltonbury is still there Mike. Serves a good pint and the windows are still the same. Must admit I don’t ever remember having to clean them. I suspect that was my mother’s job!

Talking about cricket pitches the field that was bordered by Hursley Road and Baddesley Road was once the home of the Chandler’s Ford Cricket Club and I spent a great deal of time there as I was the Cricket Club “mascot”? I have an old photograph somewhere.

I was also the groundsman!! I mowed the outfield every week in the summer.

Is it just me or were the summers of my youth always sunny? I can’t ever remembering it raining in my summer holidays playing cricket and farming at Hiltonbury!

I had no idea that there was a pub called Hiltonbury until these posts. I will make a point of going there one of these days. I may well pay a second and third visit if they have good real ale.

As for cricket grounds, I was pleasantly surprised at how many beautiful fields there are in this part of Hampshire. My sons played for Hursley teams and I had to taxi them around. Now I watch a grandson who was good enough to have a trial for Mddx last summer.

We’ve just got back from a walk this morning around North Millers Dale. I walked past the pub and took the picture.

I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t been to the Hiltonbury Farmhouse Public House either, but I’ll visit soon. I don’t drink alcohol so I don’t get to the pub often. Perhaps someone should run a tea house in Chandler’s Ford?

The Hiltonbury Farmhouse is a C16th farmhouse and appeared on a map of 1588. There are a number of photos and references to Hiltonbury and the Chandler’s Ford area.

I have tried to find out where the name “Hiltingbury” came from and could not find any early reference and the only thing my sisters and I can remember is that my Uncle George Beattie, the son of Simon Beattie, tenants of Hiltonbury Farm back in 1880 said that Simon asked the Post office to name the area when the first houses were built in the area to name it Hiltingbury to stop a problem with postal deliveries but it is only hearsay.

Do a Google search for Hiltonbury Farm and you will see quite a lot of interesting things.

I had the great privilege of working on Hiltonbury Farm as an agricultural apprentice in 1968 and 1969 before going to Sparsholt Agricultural College. Although born and bred on a mixed farm I learned much from Andrew and his father, Sidney John. I have to admit that those years were perhaps the most enjoyable of my life and very much remain fresh in my memory. Hope you are enjoying your retirement Andy.

Hi Steve. A voice from the past really good to hear from you. How are you and where are you living now? I certainly remember your time at the farm. I live just across the road from The Hiltonbury now and am certainly enjoying my retirement. Andy

[…] wonderful thing is that Rob is going to embrace the whole concept of “The Hiltonbury Farmhouse” and its Farming history and The Hiltonbury Herd of Jerseys that started at Hiltonbury in 1947. (Read more on Hiltonbury […]